Gig review: Rivermead, Reading
23rd March 2001

Okay... excuse my apprehension.. but this is a difficult gig for me to review cos I really wish I hadn't have been there and I'm not sure what to say given the contrast to the London gig the week before. Don't get me wrong it wasn't the bands fault, just happened to the worst gig they've ever have the misfortune of playing at. I'll try explain what went wrong...

First up, we leave the house I'm already a little peeved, cos we're running late and my friend has already been down the pub and I can't drink tonight what with driving... we then get stuck on the M25 going nowhere fast and the bastard has the cheek to fall asleep! We get about 15 miles in an hour. But hey, shit happens, we still get to the venue before anything has started. Super Bad Brad is still on stage rather humorously trying to keep his inflatable guitar inflated, and not quite suceeding. I take in the venue... a giant shed would probably be too kind. And, the place has far to many underagers in the crowd. The place is packed and I haven't worked out where the bar is yet. Decide, its a bit late for that, and make our way down the front.

9pm, still no band and the audience are getting a little impatient (though it has to be said, some top tunes are being played - some of which have extremely witty lyrics). 9:15 ish and the boys come on opening with The Fun Lovin Criminal and followed by Dickholder. And the crowd really does go crazy.

Then it all goes pear shaped, big time when some arse chucks a plastic glass full of beer at the stage and it hits Huey on the forehead with such force it nearly takes Huey down. The place goes quite. But to Huey's credit, he recomposes himself, angrily belts out the next track... and the next... and the next. No banter, no jokes, no acting school, no Smoke Em. This is Huey with a sense of humour failure and who can fuckin' blame him. Many artists would have left the stage there and then.

Meanwhile, off stage, the pushing and shoving isnt easing and its a constant effort to stay on your feet, let alone enjoy the music. After about 45 minutes of being pinned against the back of some poor bloke, I decide I've had enough. Huey isnt enjoying it. I'm not enjoying it. And it just aint cool. Problem being though, you cant move to get out, so I have to indicate to the security up front that I want out and get 'lifted' out over the front (rather embarassing). So I leave the audience, figuring Huey's too busy being pissed off to take any notice of me!

I can now make my way to the bar and after being ignored for far too long get a drink and go hang around near the back (looking for my friend who also got hoicked out when security noticed the microphone belonging to the minidisc! - the aim was to stay away from the front but what with the pushing and shoving, ended up right at the front). Huey apologised for being in a bad mood saying his head hurt and he was trying not to take it out but... they then played a single track encore and left.

Shit venue, shit gig. Best part of the evening was getting home and downing a rather large tequila. Sorry the band had to go through that shit. Hope Huey's aint got a headache no more. End of story - don't mention the Rivermead to me ever again.

[Update: According to Winston the glass was empty by the time it hit Huey (most of its contents spewed out over the audience whilst still in the air). It still hit him with some force though. Other than that, they don't talk about 'that' gig either!]